There are many different opinions about "Love" these days and a countless variety of views on what love should look like. I frequently see things done under the banner of "Love" and yet they often have very little to do with it.
I decided to take a look at what the Bible says about love because this incredible, prophetic Book tells us that God Himself IS love (1 John 4:8) and that "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God…" (2 Timothy 3:16) I felt therefore that if there was one opinion worth listening to about what love is and what it looks like then it would be the opinion of the God who is the very source and embodiment of love!
After reading through some Scriptures I soon found myself feeling inspired to write the poem "Love Is…”
Love does not parade itself or boast in what it brings.
Love will never envy and love will not provoke,
It will not wear a false facade or hide behind a cloak.
Love will suffer long and not be quick to place the blame.
Love will seek to reconcile and overlook the shame.
Love is not debauchery expressed through wanton youth.
Love is pure and selfless and rejoices in the truth.
Delighting in the humble, setting arrogance aside,
Love is not puffed up and has no fellowship with pride.
Love is not a masquerade with mankind at it's worst.
Love will never seek it's own but put all others first.
It looks to be encouraging, affectionate and tender,
Love will not intimidate to force it's own agenda.
It won't insist that others must promote and share it's vision,
Love will always show respect when faced with opposition.
It finds no joy in wickedness or actions that are crude
But celebrates in righteousness for love is never rude.
It never thinks of evil in which there is no trust,
It won't embrace depravity, iniquity or lust.
It relishes in holiness and all that it entails,
Gratified through faithfulness for true love never fails.
Free from pompous piety, it reflects our Lord above.
Love will look like godliness because our God is love.
Echoes of His character should shine and shimmer through.
Love will not forsake the facts but point to what is true.
Love is our Creator when he said "Let there be light."
Declaring all His hands had made was precious in His sight.
Love is God descending from His high and mighty Throne,
Coming in the form of flesh to seek and save His own.
Love is clearly seen upon our Saviour's bloodied face;
Love is Jesus on the Cross, dying in our place.
His sacrifice is where we see the Father's plan unveiled;
Triumphant over sin and death, Christ's love for us prevailed!
Rising from the grave, His resurrection sets us free!
Our liberation bought through Him for all eternity.
Love is when our lives reflect our Saviour sacrificed
For love is all the colours of a soul redeemed by Christ.
Love is to acknowledge our Creator God above;
When Jesus' name is glorified then that's when love is love!
1 John 3:16
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters."
1 John 4:8
"He who does not love does not know God, for God is love."
2 John 1:6
“This is love, that we walk according to His commandments.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."
Romans 5:8
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
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